Ancient Times:
* Ancient Egypt: Papyrus, a material made from the papyrus plant, was often used for writing. While not technically "lined" in the modern sense, it often had faint rulings or grids etched into the surface to aid in creating straight lines.
* Ancient Rome: Wax tablets were widely used for writing. Some tablets had grooves or lines etched into the wax to guide writing.
Medieval Period:
* Manuscript Illumination: During the Middle Ages, scribes used ruled lines as guides to create beautifully illuminated manuscripts. These lines were often drawn with a light pencil or ink.
Modern Times:
* Printing Press: The invention of the printing press in the 15th century revolutionized the production of printed materials. However, early printing presses did not include ruled lines on paper.
* 19th Century: Lined paper as we know it today became more common in the 19th century, particularly with the rise of mass printing and the standardization of paper sizes.
* 20th Century: Lined paper became ubiquitous with the widespread use of notebooks and writing materials in schools and offices.
Therefore, there's no single definitive date for the invention of lined paper. It evolved over time, from rudimentary rulings on ancient writing surfaces to the standardized lined paper we use today.